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Thrash metal stalwarts Overkill are wasting no time moving forward after a major lineup change. Just over a year since releasing Scorched, the New Jersey veterans are already writing and demoing material for its follow-up.
Earlier this week, the band gave fans a glimpse into the process when they shared a post from Jeramie Kling, their recently recruited drummer, who revealed he's been using a Roland electronic kit during the writing sessions. For Kling, it's a new way to experiment with Overkill's fast-paced, riff-driven thrash sound: "Loving my new Roland kit," he wrote, noting that it has been invaluable during "writing" and "demoing" sessions.
Kling officially became Overkill's drummer in August 2024, replacing Jason Bittner, who had held the position since 2017. While best known as a founding member of The Absence and for his work with Venom Inc. (appearing on their 2022 record There's Only Black), Kling's résumé is vast. His career includes stints with FORE, Ribspreader, Goregäng, Necromancing the Stone, and a brief tenure in Massacre, which ultimately led to the formation of Inhuman Condition alongside Terry Butler (Obituary, ex-Death) and Taylor Nordberg (Deicide).
Beyond his drumming chops, Kling is also an accomplished recording engineer, producer, and live sound engineer — skill sets that could easily bleed into Overkill's next era both in the studio and on stage. Kling's live debut with Overkill came on August 30, 2024, at the Posada Rock festival in Câmpulung Muscel, Romania.
Kling steps into a role vacated by Jason Bittner, who recorded on The Wings of War in 2019 and Scorched in 2023. Bittner's departure was not a shock to those inside the band. In November 2023, he revealed on the Pod Scum podcast that he hadn't been happy with Overkill "for, like, two fucking years."
"I'd been dissatisfied for a long time, but I'm a team player. I don't like to leave things. I love the guys personally. So I just kind of just hung in there, but I was not happy where I was career-wise within the confines of that band. I wasn't a bandmember. And that's the main thing for me to keep doing this at this point in my lifetime."
Bittner went on to explain that he felt underpaid and ultimately left for financial and professional reasons, adding that he could make more money playing five shows with Shadows Fall than thirty with Overkill. Despite that, he emphasized there was "no animosity," calling it "just a business thing."
In September 2024, bassist D.D. Verni echoed those sentiments in an interview with Capital Chaos TV: "We kind of knew that that was coming. He had told us a while ago that he was just kind of burned out on too many things and had his hands in too many pots. So I think we kind of knew that was coming."
Overkill's decision to push quickly into new music with Kling reflects the band's relentless work ethic. With nearly 20 studio albums under their belt and over four decades in the game, the band continues to evolve while maintaining the thrash ferocity that defined their 1980s classics.
Kling's presence could signal fresh energy and perhaps even some technical experimentation in the drum department. And given his experience behind the console, he may also influence the production approach to the next record.
For now, fans can only speculate on how Overkill's next release will sound. But one thing is certain: with a revitalized lineup and new material in the works, the veterans show no signs of slowing down.
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La entrada OVERKILL Is Working On A New Record se publicó primero en METALEROS 💀.
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